Native plants for Decatur County, Iowa
107 native plants recorded in Decatur County, Iowa
The USDA plant database has 155 plants recorded growing wild in Decatur County. 107 of them are native to the lower 48, and 18 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 50 wildflowers and herbs, 51 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 3 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 55 of them (51%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Decatur County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 55 | 0 | 52 |
| Half shade | 41 | 14 | 52 |
| Under trees | 26 | 29 | 52 |
| Heavy clay | 41 | 14 | 52 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 32 | 23 | 52 |
| Never watered | 19 | 36 | 52 |
| Stays soggy | 29 | 26 | 52 |
Sun all day in Decatur County: 55 rated natives
32 grasses and sedges, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Decatur County: 41 rated natives
25 grasses and sedges, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Slender spikerush (Eleocharis tenuis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Decatur County: 26 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Slender spikerush (Eleocharis tenuis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Decatur County: 41 rated natives
24 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Decatur County: 32 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Decatur County: 19 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Decatur County: 29 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Stalkless yellowcress (Rorippa sessiliflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · takes saturated soil - Shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: moderate - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Decatur County has that most of Iowa does not
23 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides): only here
- Shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa): only here
- Slender spikerush (Eleocharis tenuis): only here
- Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus): only here
- Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens): only here
- Roundstem false foxglove (Agalinis gattingeri): only here
- Hazel dodder (Cuscuta coryli): only here
- Strawberry-tomato (Physalis grisea): only here
- Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora): 2 counties
- Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica): 2 counties
Where to start in Decatur County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Decatur County gives you the most rated choice (55 plants), and Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 19 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 52 unrated natives too.